Political Quotes

“Madam President, Michigan is a water State. The State is surrounded by water on three of its sides. We depend on our vital water resources for drinking water and commerce. Water provides opportunities for recreation, rest, and reflection. Our waters define us. It has been 6 years since the last Water Resources Development Act was passed. This bill includes several provisions that will improve the management of Michigan's water resources, such as critical harbor maintenance, upgrades to drinking and wastewater systems, flood control projects, and restoration of aquatic resources, and I will support its passage. This bill makes some progress toward improving the Great Lakes Navigation System, and I am pleased that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee worked with us to address concerns with the reported bill. The bill would increase authorized appropriations for harbor maintenance, beginning with $1 billion in fiscal year 2014 and increasing every year thereafter by $100 million through fiscal year 2019. In fiscal year 2020 and beyond, the bill would require that total budget resources for harbor maintenance equal the full amount of funds collected for that purpose. Currently, only about half of the funds collected from shippers for harbor maintenance are used for harbor maintenance. The harbor maintenance trust fund, into which the fees from shippers are collected, has a balance of over $7 billion. Great Lakes harbors and channels are in great need of dredging.…”